Sex-specific Estrogen Levels and Reference Intervals from Infancy to Late Adulthood Determined by LC-MS/MS

Abstract

Context: The lack of sensitive and robust analytical methods has hindered the reliable quantification of estrogen metabolites in subjects with low concentrations. Objective: To establish sex-specific reference ranges for estrone (E1) and estradiol (E2) throughout life and to evaluate sex-differences using the state-of-the-art liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for quantification of E1, E2, and estriol (E3). Design: LC-MS/MS method development and construction of estrogen reference ranges. Settings: Population-based cross-sectional cohorts from the greater Copenhagen and Aarhus areas. Participants: Healthy participants aged 3 months to 61 years (n = 1838). Results: An isotope diluted LC-MS/MS method was developed and validated for measurements of serum E1, E2, and E3. Limits of detections (LODs) were 3 pmol/L (E1), 4 pmol/L (E2), and 12 pmol/L (E3), respectively. This sensitive method made it possible to differentiate between male and female concentration levels of E1 and E2 in children. In girls, E2 levels ranged from